Shin Megami Tensei: Strange Journey (2009)
Genres:Role-playing (RPG), Adventure
Themes:Science fiction
Game modes:Single player
Story:In the near future, a mysterious, growing, black void appears at the Earth's southern pole. Unable to determine its cause and powerless to stop its deadly encroachment, humanity sends an elite team of explorers into the heart of the phenomenon, just as Strange Journey's look and feel represent a return to the heart of Shin Megami Tensei, bringing to mind the all-time classic Nocturne. With over 300 demons to bribe, coerce, and negotiate with to gain assistance in battle, Strange Journey is every bit the deep, rewarding RPG experience fans have come to expect from the SMT franchise, yet delivered with a fresh new sci-fi story that taps into mature themes of morality and introspection.Show more
Vote to bring this game to GOG and help preserve it.1 869
The most striking of the DS SMT games ATLUS made, Strange Journey really lives up to its name. It's a really neat futuristic return to the classic SMT dungeon-crawling formula made primarily by the Etrian Odyssey team, and with those games making a fantastic return to PC recently, I'd like to see this one come back as well.
SMT Strange Journey holds such a special spot in my heart. Marrying elements of early SMT games with more recent ones to create a dungeon-crawling experience of epic proportions. Thankfully, it's one of those DS games that doesn't use the touchscreen, so it would be perfect for a modern re-release.
While the Redux version on 3DS adds lots of QOL changes and makes the game prettier, the original game still feels great to play, sounds great, and the story is still amazing.
One of the best dungeon crawlers of all time paired with the typical demon(pet basically) fusing of SMT series and the general dark over the top atmosphere the series got. For me its the game that made me a fan of SMT series. Its also a pity there hasnt been a PC version yet
This game is genuinely torture. Agony, even. The amount of warp tiles unnecessarily sprinkled into the maps just make me claw my scalp. I definitely have mental stretch marks. Lets be honest, warp tiles are not good game design. All they do is delay meaningful progression because you weren't lucky or you had bad RNG which is something at least SMT 1 was merciful with (we don't talk about SMT 2/10's backtracking). To anybody who hasn't played the game, it may sound like I hate it. Maybe on some level every SJ fan hates the process of actually playing SJ. This game is actually as difficult as people mistake all of Megami Tensei to be. You can't really cheese the gameplay with busted fusions that carry you for 10 hours like in other games. Your demons will quickly become obsolete after 2/3rds of a dungeon/map and the main character is extremely difficult to create a decent build of without just looking up recommendations. This game has the best story (moment to moment experience) and plot (broad stroke summary) of any mainline Megami Tensei. Its familiar enough to include all the familiar tropes of the past titles while still being original with its multicultural cast and unique setting (and demon co-op combat I guess though nobody cares about that). I don't even wanna THINK about touching this game again but Strange Journey needs to be preserved.
.Hack//G.U. Vol. 2: Reminisce.Hack//G.U. Vol. 2: Reminisce is the second entry in the .hack//G.U. series containing: Vol. 1: Rebirth, .hack//G.U. Vol. 2: Reminisce and .hack//G.U. Vol. 3: Redemption. As in the previous .hack games, .hack//G.U. simulates a massively multiplayer online role-playing game as the player controls a character who starts playing it.
Players assume the role of a participant in a fictional game called The World. While in The World, the player controls the on-screen player character, Haseo, from a third-person person perspective (with optional first-person mode). The player may control the camera using the game controller's right analog stick. Within the fictional game, players explore monster-infested fields and dungeons as well as "Root Towns" that are free of combat. They also can "log-off" from the game and return to a computer desktop interface which includes in-game e-mail, news, and message boards, as well as desktop and background music customization options. In Reminisce, an optional card game called "Crimson VS" becomes available. The player may save the game to a memory card both from the desktop and within The World at a Save Shop. After the player completes the game, a Data Flag appears on the save file, which allows the transfer of all aspects of the player character and party members to the next game in the series. This can also be applied to previous games if the player first finished the Reminsce or Redemption.
Players can attack monsters in real time. However, the action pauses whenever the menu is opened in order to select magic to cast, items to use, or skills to perform. The player only directly controls Haseo, while the other characters are controlled by artificial intelligence. The player may either provide guidelines ("Free Will", "Rage", "Life", etc.) or issue direct commands (for example, to cast a particular magic at a particular enemy) to the computer-controlled characters. Monsters roam the environments freely or guard treasure chests. Once combat is initiated, via a "surprise attack" or the player being spotted, a wall erects around the combat area to prevent escape. Weapons give the player access to the Skill Trigger feature which allows them to perform a powerful attack at the cost of losing SPs. As an adept rogue character, Haseo can wield multiple weapons for close combat. Although Haseo can only use one weapon per battle, during Reminisce the player can change weapons in the middle of Skill Triggers. Under certain conditions, the player may execute an enhanced type of Skill Trigger called "Rengeki". These attacks deal greater damage and fill a Morale gauge, which allows the player and his team members to use a combination attack. Certain plot-related fights, called "Avatar battles", use a different interface which incorporates shoot 'em up gameplay elements. After depleting the opponent's health, players must charge up a "Data Drain" to end the battle.
Root Towns are non-combat areas in The World. The player may restock on items, buy equipment, or chat and trade with other "players" of The World. The player may also undertake optional quests and visit guilds. A key feature of all towns is the Chaos Gate. This blue portal is used to travel between towns (called "servers") as well as access the fields and dungeons where battles take place. A password system controls the characteristics of each area. Depending on the characteristics of each word in the three word phrase, the resulting area may have different attributes such as prevalence of monsters or items, among other features.Fantasy Science fiction
.Hack//G.U. Vol. 1: Rebirth.Hack//G.U. simulates a massively multiplayer online role-playing game; players assume the role of a participant in a fictional game called The World. While in The World, the player controls the on-screen player character, Haseo, from a third-person person perspective (with optional first-person mode). The player may control the camera using the game controller's right analog stick. Within the fictional game, players explore monster-infested fields and dungeons as well as "Root Towns" that are free of combat. They also can "log-off" from the game and return to a computer desktop interface which includes in-game e-mail, news, and message boards, as well as desktop and background music customization options. In Reminisce, an optional card game called "Crimson VS" becomes available. The player may save the game to a memory card both from the desktop and within The World at a Save Shop. After the player completes the game, a Data Flag appears on the save file, which allows the transfer of all aspects of the player character and party members to the next game in the series. This can also be applied to previous games if the player first finished the Reminsce or Redemption.
Players can attack monsters in real time. However, the action pauses whenever the menu is opened in order to select magic to cast, items to use, or skills to perform. The player only directly controls Haseo, while the other characters are controlled by artificial intelligence. The player may either provide guidelines ("Free Will", "Rage", "Life", etc.) or issue direct commands (for example, to cast a particular magic at a particular enemy) to the computer-controlled characters. Monsters roam the environments freely or guard treasure chests. Once combat is initiated, via a "surprise attack" or the player being spotted, a wall erects around the combat area to prevent escape. Weapons give the player access to the Skill Trigger feature which allows them to perform a powerful attack at the cost of losing SPs. As an adept rogue character, Haseo can wield multiple weapons for close combat. Although Haseo can only use one weapon per battle, during Reminisce the player can change weapons in the middle of Skill Triggers. Under certain conditions, the player may execute an enhanced type of Skill Trigger called "Rengeki". These attacks deal greater damage and fill a Morale gauge, which allows the player and his team members to use a combination attack. Certain plot-related fights, called "Avatar battles", use a different interface which incorporates shoot 'em up gameplay elements. After depleting the opponent's health, players must charge up a "Data Drain" to end the battle.
Root Towns are non-combat areas in The World. The player may restock on items, buy equipment, or chat and trade with other "players" of The World. The player may also undertake optional quests and visit guilds. A key feature of all towns is the Chaos Gate. This blue portal is used to travel between towns (called "servers") as well as access the fields and dungeons where battles take place. A password system controls the characteristics of each area. Depending on the characteristics of each word in the three word phrase, the resulting area may have different attributes such as prevalence of monsters or items, among other features.Action Fantasy Science fiction
Breath of Fire IIIA MYSTERIOUS POWER...AN UNLIKELY HERO...A CLASSIC ADVENTURE...
The lone survivor of a legendary dragon clan, a rebellious youth embarks on a great journey. One of discovery... and danger. The classic role-playing game now returns to continue the epic tales of Ryu and the dragon people. An inner power of uncertain origin matures Ryu into a warrior who ponders his purpose as he embarks on a mystical journey. What lies ahead is shrouded in mystery... yet strangely familiar.
DRAGON GENE SPLICING
LEGENDARY ROLEPLAYING
AN EPIC 3-D ENVIRONMENT
LEARN OR STEAL ADVANCE SKILLS AND TECHNIQUES
POWERFUL MAGIC
NOW YOU POSSESS THE POWER TO CONTROL RYU'S DESTINY.Trending Fantasy Science fiction
.Hack//G.U. Last RecodeA remastered collection of the .hack//G.U. series with Improved graphics, systems, and game elements. This collection has an additional 4th volume continuing the story 16 months after the end of the 3rd game.
There is also a movie version of the story, called .hack//G.U. Termination Disc, that goes over the story of the first 4 .hack games and acts as a prequel to the .hack//G.U. trilogy ending just before the first game begins.
It will also include an optional cheat mode, that starts the player with maxed stats, for those who just want to experience the story.
".hack//G.U. is back better than ever! Get ready to log back into .hack as the beloved cross media franchise returns with enhanced graphics, improved gameplay, and brand new modes! Join Haseo as he fights to discover what's reality in "The World" and save his friend Shino, who was put into a coma in the real world by the Player Killer Tri-Edge.
Celebrate the 15th anniversary of the franchise with the epic G.U trilogy, including the original .hack//G.U. titles - Rebirth, Reminisce, and Redemption - now with enhanced system features such as battle balance and game pacing!"Action Fantasy Science fiction
TerranigmaTerranigma is an action role-playing game for the SNES. It is one of the few games which has never been released in North America. The Game is about a boy named Ark whose fate is to resurrect the earth and to contribute to the evolution of life.Action Fantasy
Blue Dragon"Hironobu Sakaguchi, the Father of the Final Fantasy series, and Artoon present the world of Blue Dragon on Xbox 360. Featuring the character design of Akira Toriyama, the Father of "Dragon Ball Z", and music by Nobuo Uematsu, the composer for Final Fantasy, Blue Dragon is an epic role-playing game (RPG) centered on five youngsters who possess miraculous strength and magical power to control shadow creatures that mirror the actions of their masters."
Blue Dragon follows the story of five friends (Shu, Jiro, Kluke, Zola, and Marumaro) as they travel across the world to confront Nene, the evil ruler of the Grand Kingdom. The setting inspired separate anime and manga adaptations, although these follow the story to different degrees and feature a different cast of characters. The game follows a traditional role-playing design, based around exploration and turn-based combat.
The gameplay of Blue Dragon uses turn-based gameplay elements seen in older Japanese role-playing video games. The game world contains two major types of areas: towns, in which the player can rest and purchase items, and dungeon-like areas, with numerous foes to be defeated.Open world Action Fantasy
.Hack//Outbreak.Hack//Outbreak is the third of a series of four games, titled .hack//Infection, .hack//Mutation, .hack//Outbreak, and .hack//Quarantine, features a "game within a game"; a fictional massively multiplayer online role-playing game (MMORPG) called The World which does not require the player to connect to the Internet. Players may transfer their characters and data between games in the series. Each game comes with an extra DVD containing an episode of .hack//Liminality, the accompanying original video animation series which details fictional events that occur concurrently with the games.
The games are part of a multimedia franchise called Project .hack which explores the mysterious origins of The World. Set after the events of the anime series .hack//Sign, the games focus on a player named Kite and his quest to discover why some users have become comatose as a result of playing The World. The search evolves into a deeper investigation of The World and its effects on the stability of the Internet.Science fiction Mystery Drama
.Hack//FrägmentThe commercial success of the Project .Hack franchise led to the production of .hack//frägment—a remake of the series with online capabilities.
The game uses the same engine as the .hack series with an online multiplayer component.Action
God of War: Ghost of Sparta"Marking Kratos' second foray into portable gaming, God of War: Ghost of Sparta stands as a spin-off nestled between the events of God of War and God of War II. Despite ascending to the title of the god of war, Kratos remains haunted by nightmarish visions. One such vision compels him to embark on a new journey when he witnesses his mother, Callisto, imprisoned in Atlantis under the dominion of the sea god Poseidon. Against Athena's counsel to ignore the vision, Kratos sets forth to unravel his past and, in the process, rescue his long-lost brother, Deimos, from the clutches of the god of death, Thanatos.
This second instalment for the PlayStation Portable (PSP) maintains a gameplay style akin to its predecessor, introducing a handful of new mechanics. Kratos wields his trusty Blades of Athena in this quest, now augmented with a new magic known as Thera's Bane, amplifying the potency of his attacks. The game also introduces several new magical items and a fresh secondary weapon. In addition to the captivating story mode, Ghost of Sparta offers the "Temple of Zeus," a location where players can spend orbs acquired in the Battle Arena to acquire various art and other bonuses."Action Fantasy Historical
JourneyIn Journey the player controls a robed figure in a vast desert, traveling towards a mountain in the distance. Other players on the same journey can be discovered, and two players can meet and assist each other, but they cannot communicate via speech or text and cannot see each other's names. The only form of communication between the two is a musical chime. This chime also transforms dull, stiff pieces of cloth found throughout the levels into vibrant red, affecting the game world and allowing the player to progress through the levels. The robed figure wears a trailing scarf, which when charged by approaching floating pieces of cloth, briefly allows the player to float through the air.
The developers sought to evoke in the player a sense of smallness and wonder, and to forge an emotional connection between them and the anonymous players they meet along the way. The music, composed by Austin Wintory, dynamically responds to the player's actions, building a single theme to represent the game's emotional arc throughout the story. Reviewers of the game praised the visual and auditory art as well as the sense of companionship created by playing with a stranger, calling it a moving and emotional experience. Journey won several "game of the year" awards and received several other awards and nominations, including a Best Score Soundtrack for Visual Media nomination for the 2013 Grammy Awards.Fantasy Kids